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Windows 7

Expand the Windows Task Manager, Switch Between Tabs with Keyboard Shortcuts

SUMMARY: Expand the Task Manager display in Windows 7 so the graphs or processes take up more of the window. Plus switch between tabs in the expanded display with keyboard shortcuts.

While the Windows 7 task manager is useful to manage processes, check the CPU and networking usage, monitor services, etc., have you ever wanted the display to appear larger without the menu bar and tabs?

Just double-click a blank area of the "Windows Task Manager" window near the bottom and the display will expand, hiding the tabs, menu bar, and status bar. In some views, textual information disappears, allowing the graph to take up most of the window.

Viewing an expanded Performance tab in the Windows Task Manager

Double-click the same area to restore the Task Manager display.

While this expanded view is useful, what if you need to switch between tabs? You don't need to keep switching out of the expanded display; just use the following keyboard shortcuts:

Ctrl + Tab: Next tab (cycles to the beginning)
Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Previous tab (cycles to the end)
Ctrl + Right: Next tab
Ctrl + Left: Previous tab

These shortcuts work even if the Task Manager is not in its expanded view.

Don't know how to access the Task Manager?

1. Right-click on an empty area of the Windows 7 Taskbar.

2. Select "Start Task Manager".

(Or skip steps 1 and 2 and just press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.)